New Zealand: Missed the Boat

Submitted by Jonathan Sypher on the 2017 winter session study abroad program in New Zealand sponsored by the School of Marine Science and Policy and the Department of Geological Sciences….

Sitting on the front of the boat meditating on the Pacific was holy. We followed a pod of bottle-nosed dolphins for over a half an hour. We sat out on the bow and the stern and soaked up the sun. It was beautiful. The ocean was a majestic blue, switching between aquamarine and royal blue and sea-foam green. We drove between islands, and out into the open ocean in search of more pods of dolphins to interact with. The gannets, with their yellow throats and black rimmed wings sat proudly on the water, and dove down into the water to catch their fish. We enjoyed each other’s company, and the ocean breathing salty on all of us as the larger waves buffeted against the boat. To the environmental and marine science majors, this was as good as gospel.

New Zealand: The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance

Submitted by Jonathan Sypher on the 2017 winter session study abroad program in New Zealand sponsored by the School of Marine Science and Policy and the Department of Geological Sciences….

A rusted, wrought iron see-saw, two swings and a four meter pole with two ropes perched atop a lazy Susan are all the kids needed. During all hours of the day, kids engaged with this simple playground. They ran back and forth into the ancient boat remains available and the rest of the playground. They used centrifugal force to soar through the air on the ropes. They swung their feet with tenacity. They piled onto both sides of the see-saw to try to uplift their competing partners.

Parents let their children run free, and they joined in on the games when the kids wanted.

We saw no kids glued to their iPads, nor did we see fear of strangers, or disrespect for anyone they interacted with. It was refreshing.

New Zealand: Embracing the Maori Culture

Submitted by Alexa Perez-Krizan on the 2017 winter session study abroad program in New Zealand sponsored by the School of Marine Science and Policy and the Department of Geological Sciences….

Several nights ago, my classmates and I had the opportunity to stay in a Wharenui for one night. A Wharenui is a meeting house built by the native people of New Zealand. Those native settlers are known as the Maori people. We went to a Maori village to learn more about their way of life and their culture. We went to “Tewhakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao” village, and yes, that is all one word. While walking around, our guide Kris was explaining how they live their everyday lives there. They live in an area of a geothermal valley, so there are vents releasing sulfur oxide into the air surrounding them, and it has a rotten egg smell from the sulfur. For me, it was personally a challenging experience because if you are not used to the sulfur oxide, it burns the back of your throat for a little bit, and then it starts to make your mouth salivate. There is also smog that is released from the vents and when the wind blows it can get into your eyes, and it is a hot smog that just encompasses you. If you are new to an environment like this, it makes it quite difficult to adjust to. As we continued the tour, we moved farther away from the vents, so it was easier to breathe.

We were able to view a cultural performance, which is common in their culture. The men perform something called the “haka” which is a strong dance and chant, the men use their hands to hit against their chests, they have weapons that they swing around, and they stick out their tongues and make their eyes bulge (that is probably my favorite part of the dance). It is an aggressive dance and if you see it up close, it seems a tad scary. They then had the boys in our group go up on stage and participate in the dance, and yes, I recorded the entire thing.

After that, they served us their traditional dinner for when they have guests. They cook their meat and vegetables in the the geothermal vents, it is called a “hangi” meal where the steam basically cooks the meat with the strong heat. Then to cook the corn, they throw it into a small pool with burning hot water for ten minutes. I was super timid at first as to how the food would taste, but it was one of the best meals we have had here so far. Once dinner was over, we made our way to the meeting house, the Wharenui, and it is a gigantic room that had beds laid out all throughout the house. There were carvings all along the walls, which symbolized the family. We all picked our cots and then Kris finished the night by telling us stories of her childhood. Embracing this culture was an experience that I will never forget, and I am truly grateful to have met Kris and hear all about the Maori life and the way they live.

New Zealand: Indescribable Scenery

Submitted by Keith Obiero on the 2017 winter session program in New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Computer and Information Sciences…

This past week has been one of the most fun weeks I have had in a while. The highlight of the week was the four day free weekend we had. My friends and I decided to stay at Te Anau and Queenstown. We had an awesome road trip on the way there which was amazing. The scenery in this country is simply indescribable! Every single landscape is picture worthy. During the road trip, we visited a lake that was the color of Gatorade. The roads were also spectacular. The curvy roads were awesome to drive on not to forget the scenery that complimented the drive. Once we arrived at Te Anau, we spent the night at a pretty awesome rental home then, the next day, we went to Milford Sound. I can’t say much about Milford Sound because I want to hold the experience close to my heart, but I will say this: Milford Sound was the most beautiful place I have ever visited in my life. The mountains, waterfalls, cruise and hikes were my favorite moments so far. After that, we visited Queenstown. That was a really awesome time. Honestly, the main thing I learned last week was that the world is truly huge and we all owe it to ourselves to visit many places. New Zealand is not a place I would live in because during this whole program, I have only seen four black people, but otherwise, this is a place I would definitely visit again. Just wish it was more diverse.

New Zealand: Love For Nature

Submitted by Riley McCann on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Computer and Information Sciences…

Today marks the end of the first week of the program. One thing that I’ve learned about Kiwis is that they absolutely love nature. They are very worried with the natural beauty of their country, and take a lot of measures to maintain it. They have a lot of different trash bins for all kinds of garbage, but the work they put in really shows. They also are very strict with what enters the country and especially what happens in their national parks. New Zealand is such a beautiful country; everything from the mountains to the lakes is astonishing. The pictures that I took and even ones online don’t do it justice at all, and the fact that Kiwis care so much about nature is so cool because they will preserve this for future generations.

New Zealand: Kaitiakitanga – Guardianship

Submitted by Heather Bianco on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology…

You can watch the Lord of the Rings, you can read every travel guidebook out there, and still nothing will quite prepare you for the breathtaking beauty that is New Zealand. Aside from the notable British influences on the country – such as driving on the left side of the road, full English breakfasts, and Victorian architecture – the cultural difference that was most striking to me was the concept of Kaitiakitanga. This is a Māori (the native people of New Zealand) word that means guardianship. It means that as a human being on this earth, you are responsible for taking care of and protecting it. The streets here, even in the cities, are some of the cleanest I have ever seen. Straws are either not given or made of paper. Cup lids are made of eco-friendly plastic or again, not given to you. Animal conservation is also a concern, and there are many groups working to raise the populations of animals in crisis, such as the yellow-eyed penguin. Mining is conducted, but after a certain number of years, the mining must cease, and the land must be returned to its former state. These concepts are practically unheard of in the United States. While there have been strides towards an eco-friendly culture, nothing we have done compares to the people of New Zealand – and I think I understand why. Here, you feel a connection to the earth. The land is unlike any you have seen. It almost feels as if you are looking at a green screen, that nothing could ever be that beautiful. The water is so blue and clean, the wild grasses are every shade of green to brown, the rolling hills and mountains touch the clouds, and the valleys contain glorious rainbows of flowers to which absolutely nothing can compare. When you are here, looking at these beautiful landscapes, you cannot help, but feel an urgency to protect and preserve them at all costs. After only a week here, I feel new appreciation for this earth. I hope to maintain this feeling and this mentality when I return home, and maybe even help others understand the importance of caring for what is ours.

The top of Signal Hill in Dunedin, NZ. At the top of the hill, there are beautiful views of the city, the Otago Peninsula, and the Pacific Ocean. While it is quite a hike to reach, the scenery that awaits your arrival is well worth the sore legs!

New Zealand: Maori Culture

Submitted by Nicole Coffey on the 2017 winter session study abroad program in New Zealand sponsored by the School of Marine Science and Policy and the Department of Geological Sciences….

One of the most unique things about New Zealand that I’ve noticed is the strength of the indigenous culture. To this day, Maori culture remains an important part of New Zealand. Many places have Maori names, and signs are often posted in both English and the Maori language. I’ve also heard New Zealand itself being referred to as its Maori name: Aotearoa. The Maori were not conquered by the British; they signed a treaty with them (which stands in stark contrast to the experiences of the indigenous populations of my own country).

I had the opportunity to explore the history of European settlement and interactions between the Maori and the British at the Waitangi Treaty grounds, which is home to a wonderful museum alongside stunning tributes to Maori culture, which remains proud and strong. I was shown a beautiful waka, or war canoe, traditionally used only for the transport of men to a battlefield. It was made even more impressive by the fact that it took 3 Kauri trees to build, and when in the water fully loaded weighed over 12 tons! I also attended a cultural performance at a traditional Maori carved meeting house on the treaty grounds (the top of which is shown in the photo).

The entire meeting house was designed in red, black, and white – traditional Maori colors, and the most traditionally available dyes before the Europeans arrived here. The eyes of the carved figures are made of paua (abalone) shell, and are absolutely striking to see. The cultural performance itself was interesting and enjoyable – The welcome ceremony performed was riveting, and I loved hearing traditional Maori songs. I know that, as part of my program here in New Zealand, I am supposed to spend the night in a marae (Maori village) soon; after my experiences at Waitangi, I am even more excited for that experience!

New Zealand: Kia Ora – Hello!

Submitted by Yasmine Bassou on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology…

Kia Ora! I am still in disbelief that I have arrived in New Zealand! The people are unbelievably friendly and the views are absolutely stunning. I just met with my new group for our scavenger hunt project, and we did some exploring around the town. After we checked out the octagon, visitor center & some coffee shops, we all hiked up to Signal Hill in Dunedin. I may not be able to feel my calves, but the view was beyond worth it. I have hiked many places in the United States before, but no view compares to these, it feels like I’m in the wild! I’m a little homesick, but I have a feeling that will pass. I still get service in New Zealand thanks to my wireless plan, but the time difference is pretty big (an entire 18 hours). I’m really optimistic about our study abroad group, because even though everyone is different, we all get along well on so many levels! Sports and exercise have always been a major part of my life, whether it was learning to participate and cooperate in team sports, or long distance running by myself. This is another main reason why I am beyond excited to embrace and experience everything this program has to offer! Maybe I can even check out games native to  New Zealand such as cricket or rugby before the end of the program.

Hiking up Signal Hill and embracing the beautiful views
Fun free day exploring St. Clair’s Beach, a local shore in Dunedin
Group photo at Tunnel Beach
Exploring the rocks and caves at Tunnel Beach

Sea Kayaking In New Zealand

Submitted by Cameron Capp on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition…

Looking back at my first week in New Zealand, sea kayaking stood out to me the most. Not because I had never experienced it before, but because it was different than past occurrences. To begin, the scenery was unreal. There was not a single piece of garbage or disturbance to the beach. This really demonstrated how much the Kiwis value their environment and sustain their natural ecosystem. Being able to witness seals jumping out of the water also is not something common in the United States. The kayak guides were awesome. All three were extremely knowledgeable about the surrounding mountains, ocean, and animals. Along with being educational, they were beyond friendly and made the experience enjoyable. A combination of these factors helped establish a trusting relationship. This is important, especially in a foreign country, to feel safe in case of an emergency and just overall comfortable. Building off of that idea, I feel as though our group has already established a strong sense of community. This has helped ease the transition between countries and also institute trust. I cannot wait to see what the next few weeks have to offer!

Arts And Crafts In New Zealand

Submitted by Devin O’Doherty on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in Australia and New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Business Administration…

This past week, my group traveled to Rotorua, New Zealand. While we were there, I got to experience the culture first hand in a setting outside of the Auckland city area. Our first night there was one of my favorite nights of the whole program so far. There was a night market going on in the town that they have every Thursday night. I was so excited that we made it for that because it was such a great way to see the culture and try new foods. They had over 30 food trucks, two stages with live music going on and so many tents selling homemade crafts, jewelry and art. I love seeing live music so it was really cool to be able to watch it in New Zealand and learn about the band. I also loved walking around to all the tents and looking at the handmade jewelry. This is the type of stuff I love to do when I’m in a new place because it immerses you in the culture much more than doing tourist activities. I liked talking to the artists and hearing their stories about where they are from, life in New Zealand and learning about the items they were selling. I learned about the Pounamu Rock that is native to New Zealand, specifically the South Island. The Maori word for it is, “Te Wahi Pounamu”, which means “The Place of Greenstone”. I though this was really interesting and loved hearing about it from a local artist. I bought myself a Pounamu bracelet to remind me of this and to always have something natively found in New Zealand.

Pounamu bracelet